SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

“Investments in Agriculture are the best weapons against hunger and poverty and they have made life better for billions of people.”

-(Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation)

The Farmers’ Agitation in New Delhi and the nationwide repercussions are known to all. The crust of the issue is that Farmers are not getting their due share and dignity in the Society. Their produces and contributions are not counted valuable. They do not get the necessary and timely support and facilitation. They toil day and night and are not able to reap any benefit due to various hazards affecting the agriculture sector. DISA associated with the small Farmers of the selected Villages, facilitated to form Kisan Clubs and accompanied them to make Farming sustainable by increasing agricultural productivity, adopting a Package of Practices, which can maintain long term ecological and biological integrity of natural resources. The objective of these interventions is to provide better income returns to the farming community and improve the quality of life of the families and the communities. These challenges are met by organizing the Small Farmers though Kisan Clubs and Common Facility Centres, their regular meetings, interactions, trainings, exposure visits etc for the promotion of best agricultural practices, better and more profitable use of land, increasing their livelihood options and income sources and protection of natural resources. These Farmers also join to address the issues of climate change, and engage in eco-based disaster risk reduction as well as control of pollution of the soil, water and air. They promote tree plantation and reduction of the use of plastics and chemicals. More and more famers are interested in organic farming and diversification of agriculture activities. Now they are familiar with agricultural cycle and engage in more animal husbandry, fishery, flower cultivation etc.

“The key lies in empowering the millions of small holder producers and landless workers who form the backbone of rural economies in the most developing countries to grow their incomes and improve their livelihoods by raising agricultural productivity and engaging in markets.” (James Dargie, Former Director, FAO / IAEA Division of Nuclear Techniques in Food and Agriculture.)

The following Table shows the details of Kisan Clubs: